Handling and coding clip for a culture tube closure



y 1967 A R. DE LONG 3,318,627

HANDLING AND CODING CLIP FOR A CULTURE TUBE CLOSURE Filed July 6, 1965 l/VVEfi/Tfi/Q ALLEN R. DE LONG A TT'O/PIVEY I United States Patent This invention relates generally to handling and coding of culture tubes, and in particular, to a clip for handling and color coding a culture tube closure member.

Cultural growths were originally contained in tubes which were enclosed by cotton plugs. It was found that a stainless steel closure, such as the Morton Stainless Steel Culture Tube Closure, afforded a far better control than the cotton plugs for the cultural growth, inasmuch as the stainless steel could be sterilized and kept free from foreign growths. Color coding is desirable to identify growths of various different tubes. -It was a simple matter to color code the cotton plugs, however, color coding of stainless steel has proved to be a far more formidable task. Stainless steel cannot be permanently colored in any method such as permanent inks, paint or anodizing, since the colors thereof will not withstand repeated washing and antoclaving. It is of course desirable to provide a permanent color coding for various stainless steel culture tube closures. Additionally, it is not always easy to handle the culture tubes, particularly when it becomes desirable to handle the tubes by means of a forceps, or the like.

Therefore, to overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of the prior art, the general object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved handling and coding means for a stainless steel culture tube closure.

It is an object of this invention to provide a handling and coding clip for a stainless steel culture tube closure which is readily applicable, has permanent color coding, and which is readily adapt-able for handling by means of a forceps or the like.

Another object is to provide a clip for color coding which is readily identifiable and visible from all sides.

A further object is to provide a handling and coding clip for a stainless steel culture tube closure which is economical to produce and which utilizes conventional, currently available materials that lend themselves to standard mass production manufacturing techniques.

Additional objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a handling and coding clip of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of the clip shown in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational side view, partially in section, showing the invented clip on various culture tube closures.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG- URE l a drawing of the handling and coding clip of the present invention designated generally as 10. The clip 10 is formed from a single sheet of metallic material, such as half-strength aluminum, which has been anodized with a desired color for the purposes of color coding.

As indicated in FIGURE 3, the clips 10 may be provided with various colors to identify various culture growths in the culture tubes 12. A Morton stainless steel culture tube closure 14 is provided to close the end of the culture tubes 12. The Morton stainless steel closures 14 are well-known in the art and may be described briefly as stainless steel cylinders having a closed end 17 and an open end 15. Inwardly directed prongs 19 provide a tight gripping action between the tube 12 and the Morton stainless steel closure 14.

The clip 10 has a triangular shaped base 30 which fits over the enclosed end 17 of the closure member 14. Clamping lugs 32, 34, and 36 extend, as illustrated, substantially perpendicular from each corner of the base 30. As may be best visualized in FIGURE 2, the lug clamps 32, 34, 36 provide arcuate inner surfaces which are segments of a cylinder having a diameter slightly smaller than that of the closure members 14. This provides a sufiiciently tight fit between the clamping lugs 32, 34, 36 and the closure member 14. Additionally, the lugs 32, 34, 36 may be directed inward slightly to provide a tight clamping action for the clip 10. As illustrated in FIG- URE 2, the legs 34, 36 are located at a diameter of the cylinder represented by the arcuate surfaces. However, the greater portion, at least three-quarters, of the lugs 34, 36 is located at one side of that diameter. The third lug 32 is symmetrically located with respect to the lugs 34, 36 at the opposite side of the diameter, as illustrated. Note that each of the lugs 32, 34, 36 has a rounded tip in the shape of a semi-circle. The arcuate surface and rounded tip of each of the lugs, 32, 34, 36 provide a cam at each lug. When all lugs 32, 34, 36 are engaging a cylindrical edge of a closure member '14, the cam thereby provided Will slightly spread the .lugs 32, 34, 36 apart. Thus, the placement of the clips 10 is facilitated by providing an extremely tight clamp on the closure members 14.

A tab holder 40 extends from the base 30 at a side between the lugs 34, 36. Tab 40 is perpendicular to base 30, pointing in a direction opposite to that of the lugs 32, 34, 36.

Generally, the culture tubes 12 are kept within a holder or rack 20. It may sometimes be desirable that the culture tubes 12 be entirely enclosed from light, for instance with only the closure members '14 extending through openings in an enclosed rack. It may be desirable not to contaminate the tubes 12 and the enclosure members 14 by touching them with the fingers. On the other hand, the tubes 12 may be within a rack 20 of a centrifuge or the like, where the tubes may be removed only by grasping short protruding portions of the closure members. In such instances, it is not always easy to remove the tubes 12 by merely grasping the 'short cylindrical end of closure members 14. Thus, it is desirable to provide a tab holder 40 which is readily available for grasping by the fingers, forceps, or the like. The tab holder 40 also serves as a color coded flag projecting from the closure member 14. As indicated in FIGURE 3, by the direction of the cross-hatching lines, ditferent colors may be provided for each individual culture tube 14.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A clip for handling and coding a culture tube closure member, comprising: a base; three clamping lugs extending substantially perpendicular from said base in a first direction for tightly grasping a closure member therebetween; and a handle tab extending from said base in a 3 second direction, said tab, lugs and base all being formed from a single sheet of material colored with a desired code marking.

2. A clip for handling and coding a culture tube-cylindrical closure member, comprising: a triangular base for placement over an end of said closure member; three 7 clamping lugs extending, one from each corner of said base, substantially perpendicular therefrom to tightly grasp therebetween the cylindrical side of said closure member; and a handle tab extending from a side of said base between two of said lugs, said tab, lugs and base all being formed from a single sheet of metal anodized with a desired code marking. a

3. A clip in accordance with claim 2 wherein said tab extends perpendicularly from said base and in a direction opposite said lugs.

4. A clip for handling and coding a culture tube cylindrical closure member, comprising: a triangular base for placement over an enclosed end of said closure member; three clamping lugs extending, one from each corner of said base, substantially perpendicular therefrom to tightly grasp therebetween said closure member, said lugs providing arcuate surfaces engaging the cylindrical side of said closure member; and a handle tab extending perpendicularly from a side of said base between two of said lugs and in a direction opposite said lugs, said tab. lugs 6. A clip in accordance with claim 5 wherein said lugs i have rounded tips to facilitate placement of said clip on said closure member by camming said lugs slightly outward upon placement thereon.

7. A clip in accordance with claim 5 wherein two of said lugs are at a diameter of said cylinder with a greater 7 portion of said lugs being at one side of said diameter, and the third of said lugs being symmetrically spaced with respect to said two lugs and at an opposite side of said diameter. 7

8. A clip in accordance with claim 7 wherein said greater portion of said two lugs is at least two-thirds thereof. 7

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 899,260 9/ 1908 Parkinson 294-33 1,487,917 3/ 1924 Cameron 29433 3,023,925 3/1962 Sher 220 40 3,240,384 3/1966 Lermer 220- HUGO O. SCHU LZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CLIP FOR HANDLING AND CODING A CULTURE TUBE CLOSURE MEMBER, COMPRISING: A BASE; THREE CLAMPING LUGS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR FROM SAID BASE IN A FIRST DIRECTION FOR TIGHTLY GRASPING A CLOSURE MEMBER THEREBETWEEN; AND A HANDLE TAB EXTENDING FROM SAID BASE IN A SECOND DIRECTION, SAID TAB, LUGS AND BASE ALL BEING FORMED FROM A SINGLE SHEET OF MATERIAL COLORED WITH A DESIRED CODE MARKING. 